Saturday, October 26, 2013

All fresh fruits including pineapple are packed with enzymes however pineapple is well known for being packed with an enzyme called bromelain. This gives the fruit some amazing natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Of course like most fruits it's bursting with vitamin C. They are second only to bananas as America's favorite tropical fruit.

It is this the enzyme bromelain that makes pineapple useful in treating bruises, sprains and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This anti-inflammatory property will help in relieving osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms as well as reducing post-operative swelling. Bromelain also acts as a digestive enzymes aiding in protein digestion. Most of the bromelain is concentrated in the core of the pineapple and for this reason I always add the stem to my smoothies. Pineapple is also known to help with fluid retention.

To gain the benefit of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory or as a digestive enzyme, it is important to know that enzymes are very sensitive to light and temperatures especially heat. So any commercially bought pineapple products will be dead so to speak, the enzymes will have been destroyed. This goes for bought juices, canned, frozen, and dried pineapple.

When choosing a fresh pineapple color isn't necessarily a good indicator of ripeness, some are in their prime when still green, it depends on the variety, ranging from green to yellow. The most important factor in determining ripeness is aroma let your nose help you decide. Ripe pineapples give off a sweet, fresh tropical smell. Avoid pineapples that give off a slightly alcoholic smell, they are too ripe and are fermenting. Avoid pineapples with soft spots or areas of dark discoloration. Eat pineapple at room temperature to appreciate their full flavor.

Pineapple "Rum Pud"One or two pineapplesAdd fresh mango (or frozen - you prepared when they were in season)Fresh GingerThick coconut milkA dash or two of rum A banana or twoLeave the leaves on the pineapple and cut a pineapple in half length ways. Scoop or cut out the flesh leaving the pineapple halves in tack to use as containers. Cut up the flesh into cubes removing the stem. Put the pineapple into a bowl, add freshly grated ginger to taste, thick coconut milk and a little rum, slice or chop up bananas and mix all ingredients together. Place the ingredients back into the pineapple halves and serve immediately.

Pineapple makes a very good addition to smoothies, with papaya, some pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and a banana. Besides being high in bromelain and vitamin C, pineapples are also a rich source of beta carotene, potassium, vitamin B-1 (cofactor in enzymatic reactions vital to energy production, vitamin B-2, iron, fiber, manganese (co-factor in a number of enzymes needed for energy production and anti-oxidant defense), omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and some friendly bacteria.

Do you know? The part of the fruit closest to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture than the upper part of the fruit.

Sedentary lifestyles help to promote joint pain among the young and old alike. Today, more than ever before, people spend most of their lifetime seated in front of various electronics and inflammation of the joints is one of the outcomes of such a lifestyle. So this problem is only growing.

Types of Joint Pain

Joint pains can be divided into three distinct categories: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Bursitis.

Arthritis is the most common type of joint pain. Arthritis is itself subdivided into two categories: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The former refers to the condition wherein the immune system of the body attacks the body's own joint tissues, having mistaken them for being foreign cells. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common auto-immune disease that people suffer with.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, refers to the deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints due to wear and tear in the body.

Bursitis is the name given to the chronic pain of the joints caused by the inflammation or injury of Bursae, which are sacs filled with fluid that cushion the movement of the joint bones against friction. Shoulder and elbow joints are the usual victims of this issue and the individual suffers unbearable pain.

Omega 3 and Joint Pain

Omega 3, an essential fatty acid that can only be provided to the body through the food you eat, is a nutrient that has been proven to reduce inflammation. This is one of the many reasons why it has become so popular over recent years.

But the crucial thing most people are not telling you, is that not all omega 3 is equal!

Flax oil emerged as a favorite among athletes and bodybuilders since they frequently tend to suffer from inflammation around their joints - due to improper warm up regimens or just wear and tear on their joints.

However, the new champion that studies are hailing is fish. Specifically those cold water oily fish that we are told to eat more of to protect our hearts.

Well the very substance in those fish that protects our hearts is the same one that has been shown to have significant effects on reducing many kinds of inflammation. And inflammation is of course what causes joint pain.

So we now know it's the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in omega 3 that provides most of the researched benefits. And oily fish is the only source of omega 3 that provides significant levels of DHA.

So Eat More Fish? Yes and No!

Eating more oily fish should be the solution. But we now have to be careful due to the levels of pollution that can be found in those fish. The danger is recognised by Government bodies that advise us to choose fish carefully and avoid eating (the very fish we want more) of too often!

Personally, I now choose to take fish oil in capsule form, after it has been properly filtered to remove those toxins. It's one of the very few supplements it actually makes sense to buy! After all, it's difficult to get enough DHA without eating plenty of fish.

But do buy carefully. Not all fish oil is filtered as it should be. So make sure the manufacturer properly processes their oils, maintains high quality standards - and double check that DHA content too. Remember, not all fish oil is the same just like not all omega 3 is the same.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis, affecting more than 2 million Americans. It is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune disease which has no known cure, but which is capable of being put into remission.

A major evolution in therapy has occurred in the last fifteen years with the advent of what are known as biologic therapies.

These treatments are designed to act as laser-guided bullets, using proteins to knock out or intercept the abnormal messengers produced by inflammatory cells that cause rheumatoid arthritis to exist.

The obvious question raised by both patients as well as rheumatologists is this: What are the risks associated with "toying" with the immune system?

The answers appear to be the following: there is an increased risk of opportunistic infection, indicating the need to warn patients about exposure to different bacteria and fungi. Tuberculosis is a particularly dangerous "bug" to keep patients away from. Regular testing for tuberculosis is recommended.

Immunologic side effects such as neurologic disorders are also a potential threat. A multiple-sclerosis-like disorder has been seen in some patients.

Nonetheless, biologics, so far, seem to have an acceptable risk benefit ratio.

One question that has been posed by many is... "What about an increased risk for cancer?"

A recent study sheds some sobering light on this... but not in the way one might think. The conclusions reached by a study looking at data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register showed a 50 per cent increase in the risk of getting cancer in RA patients not treated with biologic therapy!

There has been a well-established link between RA and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. However, the Registry data indicates the risk for RA and contracting cancer is increased about 50 per cent. The population assessed was patients with the disease who were being treated with methotrexate alone. The study included 3,727 patients enrolled in the registry between 2002 and 2008.

Among the 148 malignancies, there were melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. In addition, there were 20 patients who developed either non-Hodgkins lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease.

Another smaller British study looked at the risk of cancer in patients treated with anti-TNF therapies. What they found were numbers similar to patients not treated with biologics. There was an increased risk of lymphoma and an increased risk of skin cancers in general. What was different was that in this group, there was also an increased risk of malignant melanoma. This latter was the major differentiating feature between the two groups.

So bottom line: It appears that anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis carries the same risk for cancer as does the underlying disease. One exception is the increased risk of malignant melanoma.

If there is a way to avoid health problems, then do it. Things like joint pain are not inescapable! Just because you are gaining age does not mean you have to adopt arthritis. Holisitic health supplements can help relieve and avoid joint pain and problems. GNC Triflex is a natural supplement that helps you move freely and without pain, swelling, and stiffness. Even if you suffer from mild to severe pains, GNC Triflex can help.

First off, are you aware that you can avoid joint pains? The whole point of products like GNC Triflex is to not just stop the pain, but to help people PREVENT it from ever coming. It is understandable why someone would think that conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis or joint pains are just a side effect of growing old. Yes your body changes as you age, but these conditions can all be easily defeated! Beyond having a healthy diet, getting a good rest, and excising, there is also the idea of taking supplements to help stop and prevent joint pain. GNC Triflex is a great example of a daily supplement that can help with these problems.

GNC Triflex uses MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin to make up its formula.

MSM: also known as methylsulfonylmethane, MSM and is known for its ability to relieve pain caused by OA (osteoarthritis). It is said to help strengthen tissues because it distributes sulfur to the body. MSM has been animal tested and proven for its ability to help with inflammation.

Glucosamine: is an amino sugar that is used in a lot of supplements that used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Glucosamine has gone through many different clinical studies showing significant physical improvement. Is supposed to help prevent cartilage degeneration.

Chondroitin: often paired with glucosamine for the treatment of join pains. It is known for its ability to create cartilage. This also helps with the breaking down and repairing of cartilage. This will also help reduce pains and stiffness.

Users are instructed to take 3 capsules a day of GNC Triflex. It is also recommended to take this product with meals.

This supplements fights as a triple threat in the battle of joint pains. Osteoarthritis and arthritis don't have to take over your life. By incorporating glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin into your daily schedule, you can greatly improve your joint health. Not only will it treat the aches, but it will improvement stiffness and swelling.

Although you cannot stop the progression of osteoarthritis, you can take an active role in the management of the symptoms, maintaining optimal function and mobility, and positively influencing your recovery from joint replacement surgery. Learning more about how osteoarthritis impacts the body and what you can do will promote safe, effective, and positive management of the disease. Here are a few principles to follow that will help get you started with your self management exercise plan:

The Weight Bearing Principle: Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of cartilage in your joint that then presents in pain due to the friction of two bones rubbing against each other. When your knee joint is loaded as it would be in a weight bearing position such as standing or walking, it creates an environment where there will be friction on the bones possibly causing pain. Now, this does not mean you should stop walking altogether, but this principle exists to teach you the following:

If you are already in pain or experience pain upon weight bearing, select non weight bearing exercise options. Pain will increase inflammation in your joint and therefore decrease your range of motion. When you select non weight bearing exercise, you are able to keep your body moving and maintain range without causing pain and inflammation.

If you are overweight, this is presenting a greater load on the knee joint and adding to your pain. You could greatly reduce your pain and increase your mobility by doing your best to lower your weight.

Range of motion at your knee joint enables you to walk normally, climb or descend stairs, and sit or stand with ease. Therefore, it is more important in terms of function, to work on maintaining flexion and extension of the knee than it is to solely target strength. Your first goal in implementing specific exercises should be to work on knee flexion and extension exercises. These exercises are often forgotten about, but are truly the most important for you to do especially if you will be going in for joint replacement surgery.

Quadricep Strength for Ability & Recovery

The most important muscle you can strengthen to help you recover from surgery quicker and to help support your knee joint is the quadriceps. Often this muscle will atrophy, or shrink, on the leg impacted by osteoarthritis due to the avoidance of pain. There are many exercises you can do in a non weight bearing position to keep the quadriceps strong. If it even hurts to just bend your knee, there are even isometric strength exercises that can be done for the quadriceps that do not require any bending of the knee. Everyone should be able to perform at least one to two quadricep strength exercises that do not cause pain.

The Importance of Muscle Lengthening

It has been reported that close to 90% of the pain associated with osteoarthritis is linked to muscle tightening, trigger points, or knots in muscles. When you begin to feel pain around a joint, your muscles begin to shorten in an attempt to protect the joint and also because you will start to use that muscle less. The muscles that may shorten around the knee joint are your quadriceps, hamstrings, illiotibial band, calves, and hip flexors. When you implement a weekly stretching routine to target all of these muscles, you will greatly influence your function, post surgery recovery, and possibly reduce pain.

By applying these principles of limiting weight bearing, targeting knee range of motion, strengthening your quadriceps, and stretching, you will improve all the symptoms created by osteoarthritis. Choose to start today in becoming an active participant in managing the symptoms and improving your quality of life.

Exercise for shoulder arthritis pain is helpful, as long as you're sure nothing in the shoulder is torn. Arthritis is kind of general term, meaning "inflammation of the joint." There are many types of arthritis and the term is used to cover a lot of conditions.

Some people seem to think only of rheumatoid arthritis when they hear the term, but that's significantly more complicated than just inflammation. You're not going to exercise your way out of that type of arthritis. So that's not the type of arthritis we'll be discussing here.

Exercise for shoulder arthritis pain doesn't usually involve a lot of heavy weights, but you will want to strengthen the rotator cuff and help stabilize the shoulder joint. The shoulder has a lot of directions it can move, so increasing the muscle strength to improve stability is key.

Since the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint (moves in the most directions) in the entire body, it is also the least stable. Strengthening the muscles that move the shoulder will take some of the pressure and strain off the shoulder joint.

Exercises for your rotator cuff can be done using resistance bands (or resistance tubing) and small hand weights to minimize the use of heavy weights and straining any of the surround tissues.

If you aggravate your shoulder, this will only increase the inflammation in the joint, leading to more "arthritis." The goal will be to improve stability and strength, which will significantly reduce the amount of strain on the joint itself. The wear and tear of your joints will be reduced, and that alone will feel a lot better.

Follow a program that includes posture improving exercises carefully and you shouldn't have any problems. If you experience sharp pain, stop immediately and consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Dogs of varying breeds and sizes are vulnerable to different forms of arthritis. A nationwide survey of dogs in the U.S. indicates that one in every five dogs is affected by arthritis. Osteochondrosis, Hypertrophic Arthritis, Hip, Elbow, and Knee Dysplasia, Shoulder Degeneration, Kneecap Dislocation, Wrist Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, and Osteoarthritis, the most common type, are diseases that may befall any dog but most especially large-breed dogs such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds and Great Danes as well as older dogs. Most arthritis types are progressive and exhibit only mild symptoms at the beginning which are often taken for granted. It is very important for dog-owners to be vigilant when it comes to spotting the early and subtle signs of arthritis in pets.

Though different dogs may exhibit signs of arthritis in varying degrees, the commonly cited symptoms of any arthritis type are stiffness, limping, reluctance to perform usual activities, conscious and cautious movement, and oversleeping. Dogs suffering from arthritis are reluctant when it comes to fetching sticks, greeting you by the doorway, running, and climbing the stairs. They usually respond adversely when touched especially on the body part affected by the arthritis. Also, arthritis - affected dogs tend to lag behind, easily tire, and stiffen in ordinary everyday activities such as walking or running. When a dog suffers from arthritis, he or she would prefer sleeping in a corner than playing around or outside the house. They also tend to rise slowly from any resting position. Lethargy in dogs is a sure sign of arthritis in most cases. These symptoms show that arthritis can greatly affect your dog's lifestyle. As a matter of fact, arthritis also affects your dog's health. Arthritis is a disease that affects the different joints in the dog's body primarily. Secondary causes and effects could be one of the following: obesity, problems with metabolism, and immune system breakdown. Arthritis is usually caused by damages in joint parts specifically in the cartilage which pads the bony layer of joints. Damages to the cartilage often occur as a result of everyday wear and tear, an experience of a traumatic injury, malnutrition, obesity, an abnormality in joint structure, and genes.

The best treatment for your dog's arthritis is to diagnose as soon as possible the condition because the earlier it is diagnosed, the earlier you can treat it. As said earlier, arthritis can be a progressive disease. Treating it in its most severe stage can be difficult and may require the application of invasive methods such as surgery. A safe and trusted therapy for arthritis in dogs is glucosamine and chondroitin therapy. Glucosamine dietary supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine have brought overwhelming success in managing and treating arthritis in pets. Synflex for Pets utilizes the most essential ingredients in the treatment of arthritis. Glucosamine is actually necessary in the synthesis of cartilage in the joints. Chondroitin, on the other hand enhances this synthesis and is known to block certain enzymes that inflame and damage the joints. Synflex Liquid Glucosamine has a formulation of other active ingredients that address inflammation in the joints. These anti-inflammatory ingredients provide your pet pain relief. Vitamins and nutrients in Syn-flex Liquid Glucosamine, on the other hand, help strengthens your pet's immune system, thereby making them stronger and less susceptible to other diseases.

Learn more about the benefits of giving your arthritic pet or yourself here at http://www.syn-flex-usa.com

In the profit driven health care industry, it is not profitable to develop a cure neither for Arthritis, nor in helping a patient control their own condition. The goal of pharmaceutical companies is to mass manufacture expensive prescription drugs to treat the symptoms of arthritis that do nothing towards curing the disease. Why? The real money is made in ongoing treatment of the patient not in getting rid of their arthritis condition altogether. Both the pharmaceutical industry and the medical community team up in this pursuit, and both find it very profitable to do so. Notice that medical doctors seldom recommend taking patients off a prescription drug once they are on it. Doctors also encourage patients to make repeat office visits, before their prescriptions can be re-filled. There is a reason for this, which I'll get into later in the article. Since drugs do nothing to cure Arthritis condition itself, and only relieve the patient's painful symptoms, it is necessary to keep scheduling on-going appointments with the doctor in order to get needed re-fills. The result is, both the doctor and pharmaceutical companies make out like bandits with an ongoing flow of income adding up to billions of dollars in costs to our healthcare system. How sweet of a deal is that?

Listen, the system of robbing Arthritis patients (insurance companies) of thousands or millions of dollars by prescribing drugs that only treat the pain symptoms of arthritis, require daily consumption for ongoing relief, and require continued doctor visits is not that bad in itself. However the issue for concern is this. Prescription drugs are manufactured synthetically in the laboratory, derived from chemicals that have dangerous side effects for Arthritis patients that take them. For example; there are about ten different pharmaceutical drug products being used to treat Arthritis. Of the ten, there are four that are the most advertised and well known, they include Prednisone, Celebrex,Vicodin and Lyrica.

All these drugs have serious and potentially life threatening side effects for patients who take them. The drug Prednisone, from the steroid family, is a drug that is effective in controlling the inflammation that accompanies Arthritis, and, is effective in relieving pain. But, it does so by shutting down the immune system, making it incapable of fighting off infections and potentially lethal virus's like Tuberculosis. Prednisone also can cause osteoporosis, muscle and joint pain. Celebrex which is related to aspirin, but more powerful, can cause heart attacks and or strokes. Plus, there can be accompanying allergic reactions, and it can cause high blood pressure and kidney problems. Vicodin, another very common pain reliever for Arthritis, has side effects, including, light headedness, dizziness, sedation symptoms, nausea and vomiting. Taking Vicodin can also be very adverse to people with gastro intestinal disorders like Crohn's disease or Colitis. Patients using the drug Lyrica can experience dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain, trouble concentrating or a feeling of being high. In addition there could be accompanying allergic reactions including swelling and difficulty breathing.

So, why don't doctors recommend vitamins and supplements (that have fewer side effects) for their patients instead of prescription drugs, and why don't pharmaceutical companies manufacture vitamin supplements? The reason is this. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, natural vitamin supplements are non-patentable, making profit margins low. Also, as mentioned earlier, unlike natural supplements, pharmaceutical drugs can be dangerous and consumption has to be monitored and regulated constantly. That is why it is necessary to schedule several office visits over the course of the year.

So how do pharmaceutical companies and the medical community continue to dominate the healthcare market? Actually much of the blame goes on the pharmaceutical industry and its manipulation of the medical profession, federal government and media. They do it by keeping both the doctors and consumers in the dark. Here is how they do it:

The pharmaceutical companies promote advertising campaigns to push the deception that patentable synthetic drugs are the answer to the arthritis problem, spending millions on countless ads on TV, radio and the print media.

They discourage studies about the health benefits from vitamins and make sure few are ever published in medical Journals and other media.

Make sure that little or no teaching is done in medical schools through textbooks and research about the benefits of vitamins and supplements, resulting in generations of doctors leaving medical schools lacking sufficient knowledge in the benefits of these healthier alternatives.

On-going promotion of huge sales forces mobilized to push pharmaceutical drugs in doctor's offices throughout the country. Often drug companies reward doctors for promoting their products with incentives like expensive trips.

So are there healthier alternatives available? Yes, but they are not readily available, you have to dig for the information on your own. Fortunately, there is the internet you can use for this research. There are a variety of Natural products that are very effective against Arthritis and have few if any side effects.

For example, simple grape seed extract has been proven to be both safe and effective in reducing inflammation, the cause of Arthritis and fibromyalgia. In addition, grape seed extract reduces the risk of arterial plaque formation in the blood, helps maintain heart health, and fights against the effects of asthma and allergies. There is also evidence that grape seed inhibits angiogenesis (growth of blood vessels feeding cancer cells). The extent of the benefits of grape seed extract is absolutely astounding if you take the time to check it out for yourself.

Pine Bark, also referred to as Pycnogenol is also very effective in controlling Arthritis, particularly knee pain. Like grape seed extract Pycnogenol is a premium herbal supplement. The extract from this pine bark is loaded with a concentrate of active bioflavonoids, (also referred to as Anti-Oxidants) which are the colored part of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and grains which have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiviral and anti-cancer properties. Yes, you do have healthier alternatives to controlling your Arthritis condition, but you need to open your mind to other possibilities. Obviously you want to check with your doctor to make sure you don't experience any complications from supplements, or find a holistic doctor if your present doctor is uninformed in alternative medicine.

1. The promise of embryonic SC2. The proliferation of charlatans preying on the dreams and fears of helpless patients.

While embryonic SC, in theory, appear to potentially be the best option for tissue regeneration, the hype has exceeded the hope. Because of political and ethical concerns, research efforts using these cells has been disappointing.

At the same time, news articles and television commentaries have also dealt with controversial areas of SC therapy. An inordinate amount of time has been devoted to exposing the seamy side... individuals involved in obvious hucksterism, the possible abuse of SC therapy by practitioners, as well as the implication that all SC research conducted outside academic centers is suspect.

As a result, there has been neglect regarding of some fascinating and promising work, particularly in arthritis treatment.

One of the more intriguing studies was recently published by Korean investigators (Pak J. Regeneration of human bones in hip osteonecrosis and human cartilage in knee osteoarthritis with autologous adipose-derived stem cells: a case series. J Med Case Reports. 2011; 7: 296)

The Korean physicians treated four patients. Two (a 29 year old woman and a 47 year old man) had osteonecrosis of the hip. Two other patients (a 70 year old woman and a 79 year old man) had osteoarthritis of the knee. They were all given a mixture of autologous stem cells (the patient's own stem cells) derived from fat along with platelet rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, nanogram amounts of dexamethasone, and calcium chloride.

Pre and post treatment MRI scans were obtained in all subjects. In the case of patients with osteonecrosis, new bone formation was noted. In the patients with osteoarthritis, new cartilage formation was seen.

Along with the MRI findings, both subjective pain measures and functional outcomes improved.

I found these findings to be extremely interesting for a number of reasons.

First, the mixture used in the Korean report is similar to the one that we use at our center, with one exception. The exception is this: In addition to the SC, we also use bone marrow derived stem cells.

And, while our center has had excellent results with knee osteoarthritis (more than 90 per cent success), our experience with both hip osteoarthritis as well as hip osteonecrosis has been disappointing.

Why the difference between hip and knee? I suspect it's because the mechanical forces are different. The anatomy of the hip joint allows extreme rotation as opposed to the knee joint which is primarily a hinge joint with some rotation and some gliding. Activity level and body weight may also be contributing factors.

Nonetheless, this report from Korea underscores what we believe to be true... the use of autologous stem cells, also known as repair stem cells, will prove to be a fruitful area of progress in osteoarthritis research for years to come.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have a deadly relationship with intestinal flora - often referred to as friendly bacteria. This is the region of the large bowel located near the splenic flexure. Among other activities, the intestinal flora is primarily charged with the responsibility of maintaining the proper pH level for the colon, for the production of certain nutrients and for helping to keep excess acids to a minimum in the body. As essential as the healthy functioning of the intestinal flora may be to good health, rarely do we hear or read about the importance of a healthy intestinal flora in keeping the development and proliferation of rheumatic disease states, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to a minimum.

During the early part of the twentieth century a brilliant English surgeon, by the name of Sir Arbuthnot Lane, proved, conclusively, the relationship between a healthy colon and adequate supplies of sodium and potassium being available to the friendly bacteria. He further determined that acidophilus is absolutely critical for the healthy functioning of the intestinal flora. Having operated on more than 2,000 cadavers and hundreds of living patients, Dr. Lane was able to see these relationships clearly. He noted that where mineral salts such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and silicon were deficient, and where acidophilus was not being adequately supplied by diet, the intestinal flora was underactive and often contributed to low-grade infections. This condition invariably led to a highly acidic state where sodium reserves in the body were depleted from the stomach, lymph and joints. This often set the stage for the development of the symptom complex arthritis, in one form or another.

Although the established medical culture of his day frowned upon his findings, Lane's work was studied and championed by John Kellogg, Are Waerland and, in later years, by Drs. John Tilden and Bernard Jensen. Kellogg, Tilden and Jensen were able to prove the relevance of Lane's claims during many years of sanitarium work with patients stricken with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. What I later learned while studying with Jensen in Escondido, California, was that Lane, Kellogg, Tilden and Jensen were right in their assertions. When organic sodium and potassium salts and acidophilus are lacking in the diet, and when body is overloaded with toxic waste material, a severe chemical imbalance will take place in the intestinal flora. Acid wastes cannot be properly neutralized in the colon and, subsequently, throughout the body.

The cells of the body require a copious supply of sodium phosphate to help remove cellular metabolic waste - particularly carbon dioxide. Without this simple sodium compound cellular waste can accumulate to the point where the cells are starved of nutrients, toxic, dysfunctional and inclined to pathological conditions. As this continues unabated, the body will deteriorate and degrade to where it can develop such degenerative health issues as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Understanding the great importance of the proper balance of sodium to potassium throughout the body and the necessity of acidophilus in the diet can aid the body in overcoming and often reversing afflictions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. If you are given to drinking coffee - even decaffeinated - eating chocolate, drinking soda pops, excessive protein consumption, drinking pasteurized milk, eating refined sugar products or denatured wheat products, you will be depleting vitamin and mineral reserves and have a difficult time replenishing and maintaining a healthy intestinal flora.

When you combine proper food intake with a healthy intestinal flora environment you can successfully treat and often reverse osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, gout, acid reflux and rheumatism. These are all primarily symptom complexes of the same basic disease - systemic toxemia, which is usually brought on by a tired, undernourished and enervated body unable to keep up with the demands of one's lifestyle and faulty dietary habits.

Once someone has arthritis, the best time to deal with the symptoms is as early as possible. The truth is - the earlier the better. You will have to have drugs prescribed during what is termed "the window of opportunity." This just may stop the illness while it's on the way. If you choose to let your arthritis go untreated for more years, you may have high risk of joints erosion, meaning disease progress. Dealing with arthritis beforehand is a new concept for the reason that there are a lot better drugs for treating your symptoms earlier than there were on the market some twenty years ago.

Rebounder exercises are one of several methods to beat the sickness and are most likely one of the best ways of managing arthritis at home, and on your own. You should not be scared of using exercise equipment because of fear of causing further pain to your inflamed joints. Trampolines help you do exercises, with nearly any sort of pre-existing injury or disability preventing any kind of strains or pains. Exercise training helps your body to move comfortably and reduces very much the stiffness in your joints and muscles, for example the "early-morning stiffness" that has been one of many arthritis signs. Gentle aerobic exercise, such as walking and running, not only is boosting your energy, but also helps to lower the emotional pain and the bodily pain that so regularly comes right together with arthritis. Arthritis can harm your posture; balance and, in reality, the posture are going to be better by doing exercises. Methodical exercise has been identified to improve the way you sleep. Trampolines are the wonderful exercise tools for people who suffer from arthritis. They are reliable, and nearly harmless, particularly for aged people.

Which rebounders are the best? Should you decide on a big or little one? The mini trampolines can have a bar, and or strap to hold on to. The smaller rebounders can be as well quite safe; above all those rebounder trampolines with an add-on bar to hold onto to make easier of keeping balance throughout the life exercises. This handy component is very appreciated addition by the elderly.

There are several suggested exercises to test. A handful exercises on the mini rebounder trampoline such as range of motion exercises are outstanding. Meaning exercises help you maintain to beat with typical movements like the stiff feeling of your joints and muscles. The exercise helps maintaining or even rising flexibility. Strengthening exercises are an additional workout to perform. These movements help to keep and increase muscle strength. It's believed that strong muscles help supporting and shielding joints affected by arthritis. Finally, aerobic or endurance exercises for instance bike riding, might improve cardio health. This also helps with the weight control, and improves overall body function. Weight control can be vital to individuals who have inflammation of a joints for the reason that the extra pounds could injure and put you through further physical pain on your joints. Exercise is a very natural and significant part of healing joint pain .

As you progress, you may try so many different varieties of treatments and modify your treatment plan ever so often. Finding the best treatment for you could be a long procedure.

Remember, the Arthritis Foundation states consulting a doctor if you have severe joint pain, and or stiffness. Drugs are almost certainly your favored doctor-recommended treatment plan, depending on how serious the painful torment is. It is also probable that your medical doctor will avoid giving you prescription medications after all. That could be based on additional conditions you might suffer from along arthritis. Of course, for you, this may be a lot to absorb, and perhaps you have other prescriptions on a day to day basis. All together it just depends what you think is best for you: from drugs, to all pure physical medications-exercise trampolines.

Green lipped mussel rheumatoid arthritis treatment is gaining more and more acceptance as a natural remedy to help control, and even reverse, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. If you've heard about it, you're probably wondering if it can help you, and if so, how does it work?

Being an auto-immune condition, there are a number of things that actually need to be addressed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The condition arises because the body's immune system erroneously recognizes the membranes in the synovial joints (the freely movable joints) as being foreign. It then starts to attack them. Inflammation eventually destroys the cartilage and tissues in and around the joints. It also triggers the production of enzymes that slowly degrade the surrounding tissue. When it becomes replaced by scar tissue, the bones fuse together.

Obviously, this makes rheumatoid arthritis a very painful and debilitating condition. However, the good news is that scientific research has proven that green lipped mussel extract can successfully help treat it by not only reducing inflammation, but also improving joint condition and eliminating free radicals that are found in the fluid of unhealthy joints.

How is this possible?

You may be familiar with the role omega-3 fatty acids play in reducing inflammation. They are able to naturally block the production of inflammatory compounds in the body, similar to how non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs do (but without the horrible side effects). Green lipped mussel extract is a potent source of a rare omega-3 fatty acid, called Eicosatetraenoic Acid (ETA), that has superior inflammation fighting capabilities.

Not only does it bind up the enzymes (lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase) that are involved in the production of inflammatory compounds, it also works at the gene level to reduce the production of cyclooxygenase and Arachidonic acid (a form of omega-6 fatty acid used by the enzymes in making the inflammatory compounds).

Green lipped mussels are also a rich source of glycosaminoglycans.These complex amino sugars are used by cells for lubricating the joints and providing shock absorption. They form part of joint cartilage and synovial fluid.

By boosting the amount of glycosaminoglycans in your body, you're providing it with the necessary building blocks that it needs to repair the damage that rheumatoid arthritis has caused to the joints.

Many people find that taking green lipped mussel extract along with fish oil has the most effective results, particularly as fish oil contains the most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids. This combination of treatment was trialled in one scientific study with 34 patients who were all suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. After 12 weeks, 38% of them no longer had any symptoms. What's more, only 25% of them had severe pain, down from 60% at the start of the trial. The majority of them were able to lower their dosage, and some were even able to stop taking the supplements.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

If you are unlucky enough to contract one form or another of arthritis, then it may seem as if your world is suddenly falling apart.

All of a sudden for one reason or another you cannot do the house work, you cannot take the dog for a walk, you cannot play tennis, you cannot play sport in general......life has changed! But why? All of a sudden your body is stopping you from taking part in activities that you once enjoyed. (maybe not the housework?)

As previously mentioned there are many forms of arthritis, the 2 most well known are osteo and rheumatoid. If you have osteoarthritis, then it could be the result of an old sports injury, or just wear and tear on your joints, and as you know both hip and knee replacements are common and very successful. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and It can affect most of the joints in the body, including the hands, feet, back, hips and knees. Osteoarthritis begins with damage to the cartilage and eventually leads to the two opposite bones (of a joint) rubbing into one other. The condition will start with minor pain in the affected joint, but soon can be continuous. Osteoarthritis is typical of the weight bearing joints and can also affect the spine. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is a more common disease of the elderly. Over 30 percent of women have some form of osteoarthritis by age 65 and if you are overweight this really adds to the pressures exerted on these weight bearing joints, you can really help yourself by losing those extra pounds!. Also physiotherapy to build up the muscles around the joint is very important. The muscles act as a support for the affected joints, but, if the joint is too badly damaged, surgery is the last option.

I would like to add that I have rheumatoid arthritis, and that I use a diet to control it, but the diet also works for osteo!

Rheumatoid arthritis differs in that in can affect any age, any joint in the body and is an auto-immune disease.

That is, that the body's own defence mechanisms attack the lining of the joints, creating inflammation, pain and eventually distortion of the bones. It is important to get treatment at an early stage if you think that you have the disease. Your doctor should be able to diagnose very quickly with the aid of a blood test. An early diagnosis could prevent damage to the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks the joints in the fingers, wrists, feet and ankles first (ie the smaller joints), then the larger joints, eg; knees, elbows and shoulders. The disease can lead to severe deformity in a few years if it is not treated. The experts do not know why rheumatoid arthritis occurs and all treatments are focused on easing the symptoms. With an early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, you can lead a good quality of life.

Unfortunately there is no cure, as yet to any form of arthritis, but with care you can stay fit and healthy.

Lupus is also a form of arthritis, and is a disorder that can be present with severe arthritis. Other features include a skin rash, sensetivity to light, kidney problems and possibly hair loss, along with constant joint pains.

Gout is caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joint, causing inflammation. Gout was traditionally known as a disease of the rich, as fine food and drink seem to amplify the problems. Affected joints will become very inflamed, most painful and virtually useless. To avoid gout you have to control your diet, and the doctor can help with medication.

It is essential to get proper medical help if you believe that you may be affected at all. The first thing that you have to do, is have the correct diagnosis. The doctors will probably prescribe drugs to combat the relevant type of arthritis that you have, but what you must be aware of is the side effects. All these drugs have side effects, and you should be made aware of these by the medical authorities that treat you.

It is possible to treat both osteo and rheumatoid by way of a diet, and avoid the drugs altogether. Nowadays the doctors are slightly better in recommending diet as a controlling factor, but will concentrate on the drugs. It will be up to you to explore the world of the arthritis diet, and how you can lead a pain free life without any medication.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by the premature wearing away of cartilage, the gristle that caps the ends of long bones.

Osteoarthritis has a predilection for weight-bearing joints such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

One of the areas that has gained a lot of interest in recent years because of its apparent increased incidence and prevalence, is osteoarthritis of the hip. Unlike osteoarthritis of the knee, there is very little correlation with obesity as far as the initiation of disease. However, once osteoarthritis has developed, worsening of symptoms occurs with increasing adiposity.

There is also a correlation with prior trauma to the hip as well as the presence of congenital abnormalities that may predispose the hip to early deterioration.

Among these include a history of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, hip dysplasia, and prior fracture.

That being said, with the growing number of Baby Boomers, particularly active Baby Boomers, osteoarthritis of the hip is a significant contributor to activity restriction.

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the head of the femur and the socket is the acetabulum of the pelvis. Both the acetabulum as well as the head of the femur are covered with a layer of hyaline cartilage. The hip is constructed such that multiple ligaments and muscles provide stability for the joint.

Unfortunately, the peculiar angulation of the hip contributes to steady worsening of osteoarthritis once abnormal forces come into play and cartilage begins to wear.

The progression of osteoarthritis often leads to the formation of bony spurs called osteophytes. These osteophytes may eventually cause what is termed "femoroacetabular impingement" or FAI.

These osteophytes develop in two distinct locations: either at the outside rim of the acetabulum or at the junction between the ball and neck of the femur. When spurs develop on the acetabulum and cause pinching with hip movement this is called a "pincer" deformity. When the spurs on the femoral head/ neck cause pinching, this is called a "CAM" deformity.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip include pain in the groin and/or buttock that is aggravated by internal rotation of the hip such as occurs with walking. Pain may also radiate down the front of the thigh to the knee. As pain progresses, nighttime discomfort becomes an issue. Shortly thereafter, restriction of range of motion develops.

Treatment, to date, has been primarily symptomatic including analgesic and non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoid injections, massage, chiropractic, and physical therapy.

Surgical remedies have included osteotomy (where a wedge of bone is removed to line the joint up better), resurfacing (a modified replacement), and total joint replacement. While surgical treatments are by and large effective, they are irreversible and they do carry attendant risks, some life-threatening.

So the search has been to develop treatments that will be effective but also preserve the joint. One such approach is the use of autologous stem cells. In our hands, the procedure which involves the use of autologous stem cells (a patient's own stem cells) along with autologous fat, and growth factors has been relatively successful. [At the same time, osteophytes are trimmed using a special fenestration technique.]

Quite frankly, so far, our hip results have not been as good as with the knee. There may be a number of factors involved including patient selection, the difference in joint mechanics, the fact that the iliopsoas bursa- a large cushioned sack- sits in front of the joint and stem cells may dump out into the bursa rather than staying in the joint, inability to go at complete non weight-bearing after the procedure, and so on.

We are continuing to modify our approach to this technique and our patient results are now beginning to approach what we initially hoped.

Nonetheless, the procedure needs to undergo constant improvement to eventually achieve the results we want and the patient deserves.

The word Arthritis derived from two Greek words; "Arthron" meaning joints; and "Itis" meaning inflammation. It is the disease of joints. They are like hinges at the end of a bone which join another bone to it. These hinges are covered with padding called cartilage and lubricated by a fluid called "Synovial fluid". Adequate amount of synovial fluid makes the joint move smoothly.

Wear & tear of cartilage is called osteoarthritis and it generally occurs in the older age group. It affects the weight bearing joints mostly such as spine, hip, knees, hands etc.

Another type of arthritis - Rheumatoid- is due to inflammation of the joints due to reduced synovial fluid. It not only affects joints but also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body.

Remedies- It cannot be cured permanently but the symptoms can be controlled or minimized with the help of:

1) Medication: In Allopath, combination of medicines and surgery helps in reducing inflammation, pain, and swelling. There are several Non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs, Analgesics and creams available. Calcium lactate is also recommended

2) Natural remedies:

Dietary Considerations: - Foods that produce alkalinity should be consumed.Garlic: - contains anti inflammatory properties and is effective in the treatment of this diseaseCopper: - water that is kept overnight in a copper container accumulates traces of copper, and drinking this water helps in strengthening the muscular system.Oil massage: - Warm coconut oil, mustard oil, or sesame oil massages are helpfulCod liver oil and Castor Oil: - Intake of either of these oils helps in reducing inflammation. Cold packs: - Using ice pack on joints can reduces the swellingNuts: - walnuts of sesame seeds, bananas, egg plant, peppers should be included in the diet

3) Exercise: - The patient should always consult a therapist to determine the intensity of swelling and pain and seek advice regarding which exercise to do.

As a Naturopath who specializes in pain treatments and a sufferer of pain, some self imposed through years of sports and some through natural wear and tear, I am well versed in the various expressions of pain. If you are in pain then perhaps it is time to review your sugar consumption. I discovered the sugar and pain connection in the mid 80's.

Every Tuesday I would have take away chicken for lunch and a well known soda, which contained a large amount of sweetener. It took me a few weeks to connect increased knee pain on my Tuesday walk with the high sugar intake. Years later I learned of the clear biochemical connection between sugar and pain. It doesn't matter whether the sweetener is sugar or corn syrup the pain result is the same.

Sugar is a direct driver of inflammation in the body. The best way of accessing your sugar intake is to keep a food & snacks diary for at least one week. You don't need to measure the sugar, just list the sweet foods. You may be surprised at the amount of sugar consumed. Whatever amount you think you are consuming it is probably 30% higher because of hidden sugars, e.g. sauces and breads. Include all treats and processed foods consumed.

If you accept that sugar equals pain, the more sugar you eat the more pain you will experience. I know it can be hard to give up your much loved snacks, especially if they are part of your stress management. We often eat to feel happier. The first step is to reduce your sugar intake, don't try to stop everything all at once, it may be too stressful. Start to introduce more fruit and nuts. Watch out for hidden sugars in so called healthy foods.

A common problem is to swap sugar for aspartame which will only cause you more problems. There are currently multiple class actions against aspartame. Safe alternatives are Stevia or Xyotol which you can purchase at any health food shop.

An important question to ask yourself is how does this pain affect my life and what am I prepared to do to gain relief. Don't forget that by reducing your sugar or corn syrup consumption you will also reduce your likelihood of obesity diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As usual with health issues one action or one problem will often have a flow on effect.

How quickly you make changes in your life will depend on your personality. It may be a lot, all at once or baby steps, gradually introducing change. Be careful who you discuss your plans with. Some people may be supportive but others may seek to undermine your efforts because it challenges some insecurity of their own.

Living with arthritis can be over-whelming, not only for you - but for family, friends and co-workers. Arthritis refers to an inflammation of the joints. It is known by many names - comprising over 100 diseases and conditions, most of which are associated with pain or stiffness. Arthritis is a chronic pain disease that directly affects millions of Americans. Reports indicate that 40 million Americans suffer with osteoarthritis alone. The most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (often referred to as, Degenerative Joint Disease).

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that causes the immune system to attack its own joints. Osteoarthritis on the other hand, consists of a low-grade inflammation that wears down cartilage and decreases the amount of synovial fluid (both cushion and lubricate the joint areas). The changes in cartilage cause it to break down faster than the body can produce it. When cartilage breaks down, the bones rub together and cause damage and pain. Common areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine, especially in the lower neck and lower back, knees, hips and fingers. People describe their symptoms as pain, stiffness (typically in the morning), muscle weakness (especially in the knee), swelling (tender and sore joints), reduced range-of-motion and as hearing cracking or creaking sounds. If weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, mobility can be affected. Therefore, it is crucial to seek arthritis treatment as soon as possible, to avoid the need for surgery.

Arthritis can affect a person at any age, as observed in the x-rays of many people who are 20 years young. Common causes of arthritis include a genetic predisposition, overabundance of microorganisms, build-up of toxins, decreased gut integrity, obesity, poor diet, hormonal imbalances (low estrogen - menopause), trauma, decreased nerve function, lack of exercise and "wear and tear" of the joint (resulting from certain occupations and activities). Joints that do not move properly due to a misalignment of the bones, must not be overlooked, as a major factor in developing arthritis.

If you are seeking arthritis relief a physical examination and diagnostic tests will help to formulate an accurate arthritis diagnosis. Diagnostic options include x-rays, chiropractic and physical therapy evaluations, blood and urine testing, along with a thorough health history and discussion of symptoms. Arthritis treatment is created to suit the age, build, pain levels and general health of the patient. Arthritis treatment options for people with mild to moderate arthritis, may include...

Physical Therapy and Exercise: The focus is on pain relief, healing, restoring function and movement and to improve body mechanics. Assistive devices and orthotics, such as tape, braces or splints can help protect joints from further injury and take stress off of joints. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength and endurance. Range-of-Motion Exercises help to maintain normal joint movement, relieve stiffness and increase flexibility; Strengthening Exercises help increase muscle strength and Endurance or Aerobic Exercises improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight and improve overall function. The side effect of exercise is weight reduction, which will place less pressure on joints.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM is based on the belief that the body needs to be in balance to remain healthy. Pain and illness occur when the body is out of balance and there is a disturbance in the body's energy. TCM treatments - acupuncture, herbal medicine and various types of massage, focus on returning the body to a delicate balance.

Lifestyle Recommendations: It is necessary to change or modify activities that cause pain, modify the home and work areas (use a reacher tool to pick up things off the floor), maintain proper posture while standing, sitting or sleeping and wear comfortable and supportive shoes.

Many people are searching for an arthritis cure, or at the very least - arthritis relief. Living with arthritis can be stressful. At times you may feel overwhelmed, tired or angry. But, there are many ways to cope with arthritis. If needed, Prescription Pain Medication Intervention, Trigger Point Injections, Joint Injections, Epidural Injections, Nerve Blocks, Facet Joint Blocks, Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation may also be recommended by a Pain Management Specialist. Discover innovative arthritis treatments and find relief for arthritis pain.

This article has compiled some important natural remedies and pain relieving oils that can be used to get relief from the arthritis symptoms -

1. Essential oils such as ginger, lavender and eucalyptus oil are very good for arthritis massage. A few drops of essential oil may be added to carrier oils like apricot or almond, and used for massaging twice a day. Apart from relieving pain, the soft, sweet aroma emanated by the pure essential oils, soothes and relaxes the mind.

2. Castor oil is also beneficial for treating arthritis. Warm castor oil may be directly applied on inflamed joints to get immediate relief, two tablespoon of castor oil may be added to fresh orange juice and taken every morning to combat arthritis symptoms, two teaspoon of castor oil may be added to a cup of ginger tea and taken every night before going to bed. It will give relief from the ailing symptoms of arthritis. The arthritis patient may also cover the affected joint with flannel cloth dipped in hot castor oil, and apply an electric heating pad at least for 30 minutes. This will reduce joint swelling.

3. Coconut oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It can penetrate easily and repair damaged tissues.

9. Omega3 fish oil is very good for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It takes some time to show results, and does not act like instant pain killers.

10. Heated mustard oil with powdered camphor added to it can treat effectively the affected joints.

11. Australian Emu oil functions as an effective pain relief rub.

12. Massaging joints with hot vinegar yields good results.

13. An effective massage ointment may be prepared by mixing two parts of olive oil and one part of kerosene. It functions as a beneficial rub.

14. Narayana oil is actually sesame oil treated with herbs. It is very useful for massaging painful joints and reduces muscle tightness.

15. Rumatone gold oil available in market has anti-inflammatory properties. It is helpful for arthritis. This massage oil not only treats inflamed joints but also relaxes muscle around joints. This herbal preparation is good for aching joints.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Arthritis treatment is dependent on the cause of which there are several possibilities. Sexual infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, rheumatic fever and even the lung disease tuberculosis can all cause arthritis. Physical injuries such as sports injuries or even the simplest problem of how comfortably you place your hand at your computer's keyboard (for those who type for long hours). Other problems such as uric acid and the loss of calcium can also contribute to arthritis.

What is arthritis? Simply put, it is an inflammation of the joints. It is characterised by pain in the joint that is accompanied by the inflammation and sometimes reddening. In more severe cases it can affect mobility to the point that it may become extremely difficult to move the affected limb due to the arthritis.

The term arthritis is limited to inflammation of the joints, but there is also rheumatoid arthritis that affects the joints plus the muscles, cartilage and tendons in close proximity to the affected joint.

Nature has brought us natural remedies for almost every affliction and I honestly believe nature has a cure for every disease, it is just a matter of finding it. Over time man has found herbs that can cure their ailments. For some sicknesses, there are many different natural herbs that help to either prevent, treat, stabilise or cure them. Most herbs have several uses and chances are you will hear the names of some common herbs and not be aware of all their medicinal and curative properties. Some may be common seasonings or vegetables that we use everyday. We will however only state the benefits for arthritis sufferers and largely ignore the numerous other health benefits from the use of these herbs.

Please consult your doctor before taking any of these herbs.

The following herbs can help in arthritia treatment and relieve some of the discomfort from arthritis:

Alfalfa - in addition to being a good tonic that stimulates the appetite, alfalfa helps to relieve arthritis when a decoration of the ground seeds is used in combination with alfalfa sprouts.

Angelica - has anti-inflammatory effects that makes it effective in combating arthritis. This is obtained from an extract from the root diluted with water, taken orally. Care must be taken when using Angelica as the fresh roots are toxic and have to be dried properly before being taken orally. In addition people who take angelica and spend time in the sun have been known to develop a rash.

Comfrey - has more protein in its leaf structure than any other known member of the vegetable kingdom, the most notable protein of which is alantoin, which helps in cell division. It is found in the roots as well as the leaves. Alantoin stimulates the healing of both internal and external injuries as a result of it being a catalyst for cell division.

Flax - the seeds of this plant is best known for being high in natural omega 3 oils. In addition, when the seeds are prepared as a poultice, it helps alleviate rheumatoid arthritis and serves as an emollient.

Laurel (Bay) - ever since we were kids, my grandmother used to rub on bay rum whenever we had a fever. It turns out it also has anti-inflammatory properties. The oil extracted from the fruit as well as the leaves can be used as an ointment to help relieve rheumatoid arthritis.

Parsley - famous for its culinary uses in salads, soups, fish dishes to name a few. Parsley can also help in relieving arthritis through an infusion of the entire plant, taken orally. It is not recommended for pregnant women, but pregnant women need to consult their doctors before taking anything beyond normal meals.

Red Clover - an annual plant that is also used to relieve arthritis. This is achieved through an infusion of the entire plant.

All these herbs have many other uses, so using each brings several other benefits. I prefer natural remedies simply because the prescription drugs may have long term side effects or lead to dependence after a period of use. Natural remedies from herbs can even end up being a cure for your illness or disease. They contain so many chemicals, one may just be the one to end your problems.

Using the herbs listed as arthritis treatment may give you the relief you need; you may already have them in your home or garden so now you have found another use for them. Just remember not to consider them a substitute for your doctor.

Although there is a large choice of prescription medications for the treatment of arthritis, many people are turning towards more natural arthritis treatment. Prescription medication can often cause adverse reactions and unwanted side effects that are not present in natural treatments. Although we do not advise stopping any treatment without consulting your doctor, here are some natural arthritis remedies you may want to consider.

Treating Arthritis with Holistic Medication

This involves finding and treating the root cause of the disease and treating the mind and body as a whole- hence 'holistic'. Holistic medicine works on the belief that imbalances in one area of the mind or body will impact upon other areas, resulting in ill health. Treatment usually involves the use of homeopathic remedies such as Chinese herbs, acupuncture and meditation to restore energy and balance to the system.

Treating Arthritis with Massage

Many have found relief from the symptoms of arthritis by using massage techniques on the affected areas. Essential oils can be used to great effect; the best oils for treating arthritis are Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, Chamomile and Juniper. They should be diluted in olive oil (10 parts of oil to one part essential oil) and should be warmed gently before use. Apply directly to affected joints and massage them in very gently.

Treating Arthritis with Diet

Adding certain supplements to the diet can also help to naturally relieve arthritis symptoms. Garlic contains strong anti-inflammatory properties, so try adding it, either raw or cooked, to your meals. If you don't like the strong taste, garlic supplements can be purchased at health stores.

Cod liver oil has been proven to slow the deterioration of cartilage and connective tissues. Try taking a supplement or drinking one or two teaspoons a day.

Castor oil can also help reduce arthritic pain. Castor oil should be boiled over a stove burner and mixed into fresh orange juice.

Vitamin B6 can reduce pain and inflammation in the joints. Bananas are an excellent source of this vitamin; it can also be purchased as a health supplement.

Honey has also been proven to reduce symptoms of inflammation and stiffness in arthritis sufferers.

Treating Arthritis with Herbs

Black Cohosh has pain-relieving qualities similar to aspirin, and can help reduce joint inflammation. Ginger can also be used to treat pain and inflammation

Certain herbs such as Feverfew, angelica, Boswellia and Ginseng have anti-inflammatory properties. Angelica can reduce inflammation and is a natural pain reliever. It also relaxes the muscles, relieving muscle tension which may aggravate arthritis symptoms.

Bathe Those Symptoms Away

Epsom salts can help break down the uric acids in the body which can lead to arthritis, and are also a source of magnesium, which aids bone growth. An Epsom salts bath can be really effective- add three cups of Epsom salts to a hot bath, and soak in it. Have the water as hot as you can stand it, and keep topping it up as required.

Bathing in sea water can be beneficial as the natural iodine found in sea water can alleviate arthritic pain. Iodine can also help repair tissues and regenerate the skeletal frame.

Some people have found relief from their symptoms by using steam baths and saunas.

Other Natural Arthritis Treatments

Using heat pads on the affected joints can also work wonders, although you should be careful not to overheat them or restrict the joints too much.

Exercise is a great way to treat arthritis and help deal with the symptoms. Regular exercise will improve joint stability, reduce joint stiffness and help to reduce excess weight which may be putting more pressure on affected joints. Swimming and walking are ideal exercises as they are low impact but will raise the heart rate.

If you do decide on using natural arthritis remedies, you should always discuss this with your doctor first before stopping any prescribed medication.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be painful and debilitating. If you are experiencing any symptoms similar to the one listed below, it is essential to see a doctor right away for an accurate diagnosis. This is critical because rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that can progress quite rapidly and lead to joint deformity and even organ damage in some individuals.

What are the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? In most cases it can start with a feeling of stiffness, especially in the morning which can wear off as the day goes on. The stiff feeling usually starts in the small joints of the hands and feet and can include the wrist and shoulders as well.

Both sides of the body are usually affected symmetrically, which means both left and right hand and feet. The moment this type of stiffness is noticed is the time to get a diagnosis. It may be nothing to worry about, but if it turns out to be rheumatoid arthritis, an early diagnosis is one of the best things that can happen. If your doctor seems dismissive, go and find another, or ask to be referred to a rheumatologist. It's very important to start rheumatoid arthritis treatment as soon as possible.

After the initial feelings of stiffness, the joints may become painful and inflamed. You may feel very tired for no apparent reason or have a slight fever and flu like symptoms, you may even lose your appetite. At this stage a lot of people will shrug this off as the flu and the aches and pains that normally accompany the flu. This is what makes this disease so destructive, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be similar to the symptoms of other diseases.

Over time the pain and inflammation will worsen. The affected joints may feel "hot" and the surrounding skin may appear red. Eventually the symptoms will spread to other parts of the body such as the hips, knees and possible the jaw. There may be weakness in the muscles and joints and swelling in the lymph glands. You may even notice the appearance of small bumps under the skin near the affected joints. These are known as rheumatoid nodules.

Eventually, if the disease remain untreated, deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints will occur and the joints will become deformed and this will further limit movement. There are various surgical procedures that can be performed these days which can give sufferers a better quality lifestyle.

Unfortunately the joints are not the only body parts that can be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis can also spread to connective tissue and blood vessels all through the body and cause inflammation in certain organs, such as the heart and lungs, increasing your risk of respiratory and infectious diseases. This is another reason why accurate diagnosis is so important.

To make diagnosis more frustrating is the fact that the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be confused with those of osteoarthritis, which is a more mechanical form of arthritis. However osteoarthritis does not typically affect both sides of the body symmetrically and there is no accompanying inflammation or fever. However in mild cases it is sometimes hard to tell the difference when joint pain is the only symptom.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can also come and go. Frustratingly they can disappear when you are at the doctor's surgery, only to reappear when you arrive home! More often there will be flare ups which can last for indefinite periods of time, followed by a period of remission. Sometimes the disease will disappear, never to return and in some cases it will be present all the time.

The main thing is to always monitor your body for unusual or new symptoms. If you notice any stiffness combined with flu-like signs or persistent tiredness, have them checked without delay as they could very well be symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and the progress of this disease is very rapid.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the gristle that caps the ends of long bones and provides shock absorption and gliding properties. OA is also characterized by decreased regeneration of cartilage.

While it typically occurs after the age of 40, it is becoming clear that OA can actually begin much sooner, sometimes as early as the teen-age years.

The standard approach to OA involving the knee is fairly straightforward. Analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), thermal modalities (ice), physical therapy, exercises, and injections of glucocorticoids and viscosupplements (lubricants), are pro forma. These measures are, at best, palliative.Eventually, most patients go on to have joint replacement surgery.

[Recently, the use of mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of OA of the knee has been found to be effective in many cases, extending the time or even reducing the need for replacement.]

Studies looking at gait have shown that patients with OA of the knee shift their weight to the medial (inside) compartment of their knee while walking.

In addition, the pain, deformity, and instability of knee OA leads to gradual quadriceps weakness and atrophy. All of these play a role in the altered gait characterized by patients with OA of the knee.

In addition to quadriceps strengthening exercises, measures that unload the medial compartment of the knee may be effective in improving exercise tolerance, reducing pain, and improving function.There are two types of devices that can accomplish this.

The first is an unloading type of brace. These braces, made of lightweight polymer materials, are designed to "open up" the closed medial compartment. When this is accomplished, there is a marked improvement in gait, as well as reduction in pain.

Another very effective device that's overlooked and sometimes even resisted by patients is a cane.

"The use of a cane with the purpose of reducing the biomechanical load on the joints of the lower limb is part of the treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis. This strategy is expected to increase both independence and tolerance to exercise, allowing a more efficient gait, with a reduction in joint stress." (Jones A, Silva PG, Silva AC, et al. Impact of Cane Use on Pain, Function, General Health and Energy Expenditure During Gait in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(2):172-179)

A cane should always be used in the hand opposite to the affected knee. Studies have shown this reduces the load on the medial compartment of the knee and also normalizes gait mechanics.

At our center, following stem cell procedures, we almost always temporarily have patients use an unloader type brace after the procedure and advise the use of crutches early on and a cane after that in most cases.

Arthritis cure or arthritis reversal and recovery - call it what you will. Any adult stricken with arthritis will tell you they spend a great deal of time searching for anything that can offer even a glimmer of hope that one day they will, in fact, find an arthritis cure. This is an admirable mindset and many who are stricken with arthritis will have varying degrees of success in that pursuit. If you have arthritis and are determined to find a cure, I applaud your tenacity but there is something you must know if your efforts are to bear fruit.

The great majority of arthritis cases develop as a consequence of certain physiological, mental and emotional conditions. In order to cure arthritis, per se, nature will exact from you an effort that you may or may not be able to muster. She will require that you retrace every step along the path to sickness that you originally passed through while the disease was setting up shop and gaining strength. The effort of which I speak will take you back through every major painful and stressful episode you encountered since you first contracted arthritis. The distress you will experience will include memorable mental and emotional episodes that were tied to your arthritic condition. In the language of alternative health practitioners, this is known as nature's disease reversal process.

No degenerative illness, of which I'm aware, can be removed from the body until its roots are torn out. If you don't retrace the steps and pick up every bit of rubbish and waste material the disease has left in its wake, your body will not be properly positioned to heal itself of your rheumatic disease and grant you the arthritis cure you seek. Nature requires that you clean up the mess along the way on the path back to health - the disease reversal process.

How does this mysterious process work? It's based on a natural law that proclaims: 'all cure comes from within the deepest recesses of the body and proceeds outward toward the skin. It moves from the head down toward the feet and it will heal in the reverse order in which the symptoms originally appeared in the body.' What this implies is that degenerative disease states develop along predictable lines and travel the same predictable course, in reverse direction, back to the acute stage of initial irritation and inflammation. In essence, an inflammation continually treated with drugs, without focusing on the cause of the inflammation, will eventually advance to the sub-acute stage, then onward to a chronic condition and ultimately to a degenerative disorder such as arthritis.

To bring about an arthritis cure, or complete healing, you must travel backward along the path you took to get where you are today. It can be intense, upsetting, disturbing and possibly one of the most difficult things you will ever do. However, if you persevere through all of this you may find that elusive treasure you seek - an arthritis cure served to you on nature's golden platter.

Arthritis is a debilitating disease that causes severe physical pain and emotional turmoil for millions of people who suffer with it.

Many do nothing about it, simply because they feel the cost of joint replacement surgery is too high.

Prices for corrective joint surgery, however has fallen dramatically in price making them more affordable than ever and surgery is available at a cost of around 70% less than surgery in the US and Europe, in India.

Joint replacement is now affordable at 75% less than in the US or UK!

A hip or knee replacement for example, would cost around 20,000 dollars in the US, but in India costs just $4,500.

While the cost may be competitive there is no difference in the quality of treatment.

Many patients from Europe and the US are now traveling to India to have joint replacement surgery done, are saving enough money to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime and still have money left over!

Before we look at the standard of care in India for joint replacement surgery, let's look at the devastating affect arthritis can have:

What is arthritis?

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, all of which affect one or several joints in the body.

The word arthritis comes from the Greek words, arth meaning "joint" and "inflammation".

Arthritis effectively means "inflammation of a joint", which is not strictly true of the condition as in many kinds of arthritis the joint is not actually inflamed or swollen, but the pain is still there.

The consequences of arthritis

The affects of arthritis can be devastating:

70% of patients with Arthritis show evidence of radiographic changes within only 3 years.

50% of patients with arthritis are disabled and unable to work within 10 years.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

We all know that millions of people suffer from arthritis every year. We see countless ads for the latest super-pill, super-food or super-drink guaranteed to make our arthritis go away. Researchers at prestigious Universities and pharmaceutical giants are spending millions of dollars looking for a silver bullet to cure arthritis. All of us that have suffered with arthritis pain have most likely tried more than one pill touted as an "arthritis cure". Unfortunately the results, if any, are temporary, and we are quickly off to find the next best thing in our battle with arthritis.

As someone who is winning the battle with arthritis and someone who has tried numerous products to keep it in check, I would like to offer you what I believe to be the BEST ARTHRITIS CURE. It is this: the BEST ARTHRITIS CURE is to realize that there is no cure. That's right. Once you learn to understand what arthritis is, you will come to the conclusion that there can never be a cure. You see, arthritis is simply inflammation. Inflammation is a normal part of the biological process of all the cells in our body. It is something we all live with everyday, even those of us who have not been diagnosed with arthritis. The key is to keep the ongoing process of arthritis/inflammation down to a minimum so that it does not cause pain and destruction of our bodies.

Therefore, the BEST ARTHRITIS CURE is to first realize that arthritis/inflammation is an ongoing war within each of our bodies that we must wage battle against on a daily basis. There are numerous weapons you can use to battle arthritis/inflammation on a daily basis. There is an old saying that goes, "It is better to have and not need, then to need and not have." I have personally found that it is better to prepare for each day's battle in this ongoing war with as many weapons as possible.

When I was in my mid 20's I was in such crippling arthritis pain that the last Rheumatologist I saw wanted to put me on a powerful chemotherapy drug called methotrexate. That was one weapon I had the good fortune of never having to use. Today I am pain-free and healthier than I have ever been. I take no prescriptions of any kind and do not use anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or painkillers. Instead I utilize the various weapons in the list below to beat arthritis on a daily basis. What most doctors currently have to offer only masks the symptoms of the inflammatory process, while the destruction of the body continues. Below is my own personal list of weapons that I have used together in a joint and multi-faceted, successful campaign to control the destructive inflammatory process. These have helped allow my body to heal, and regain my vision, which I had almost completely lost.

1. A HEALTHY DIET-- A wise man from Ghana Africa I once had the pleasure of working with told me the following; "In my country we are a slave to hunger. In your country you are a slave to food." It was definitely the case with me.

Unfortunately, most of the diseases we suffer with are either a direct result of what we voluntarily put in our bodies or are made much worse by it. This is especially true when it comes to inflammatory arthritis. This is borne out by numerous successful epidemiological studies. The solution is to view food as either fuel to feed the fire of inflammation in our bodies, or as a way to fight that fire, and nourish and heal our bodies.

My first weapon is a healthy diet loaded with anti-inflammatory foods that are loaded with antioxidants, like fruits, vegetables, seeds and wild caught coldwater ocean fish. Some of my personal favorites include: red and yellow peppers, onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, blueberries, grapes, raisins, pumpkin seeds and wild Alaskan salmon. In addition, I avoid foods that are known to cause inflammation in most people. Notice I said avoid, not necessarily eliminate. I must admit I do not have the discipline of Jack LaLanne or Dr. John McDougall, both of whom you can read about in other articles on Best Supplement Guide. I simply will not seek out or choose to eat and drink the following on a regular basis:

1. Dairy products, including cheese, milk and ice cream.

2. Anything with hydrogenated fat. Anything loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol like most of the more flavorful cuts of beef and pork, including burgers, hot dogs and sausage.

In order to rid myself of pain and inflammation I initially tried to stay as close to a vegetarian diet as possible. I first followed Dr. John McDougall's McDougall Plan. Now that I have my inflammation under control I will eat things like lean chicken breast, shrimp on occasion, and once in a great while a cut of beef like filet mignon. I still will not go near pork. Every time I eat pork my inflammation increases tremendously.

Other products I avoid are carbonated beverages like soft drinks, both regular and diet. Carbonated beverages lower the ph of your blood, making it more acidic. This causes a response in your body to try to bring your blood ph closer to neutral. It does this by leaching calcium and phosphorous from your bones. So think about this visual: you drink a soda for lunch, along with eating a big fat juicy burger, making your blood even more acidic. At three in the afternoon you go to the restroom and literally watch yourself pee part of your skeleton down the toilet. That's right: your kidneys will actually pull that calcium and phosphorous from your skeleton out into your urine. But not all of it-you have heard of kidney stones?

No, you are not going to win your daily battle with arthritis/inflammation by simply taking your doctor-prescribed pharmaceutical drug while washing it down with soda and a double cheeseburger. You must be willing to embark on a complete lifestyle change focused on eating and drinking healthy foods.

2. EXERCISE-- Exercise does several important things, including releasing beneficial hormones needed to keep lean muscle mass and burn unwanted fat. If done correctly, it will help you increase mobility and flexibility, which is important in overcoming the stiffness associated with arthritis. I personally do a five-minute slow stretching routine everyday.

I also do a vigorous cardio routine at least three times a week on a no-impact elliptical trainer or bike at a fitness gym. When I say vigorous, I mean I always work up a sweat. (Editors note: Those who experience hip pain should avoid the bicycle and elliptical because of the pressure placed on the hip flexor.)

I feel one of the most important parts of the exercise program to lessen the grip of arthritis is to do light resistance training at least three times a week. Whether you use your own body weight doing push-ups, or knee bends with stretch bands or light weights, it is important to stimulate muscle growth to support your skeleton and help you maintain bone density.

3. REDUCE STRESS-- No matter whether it is your job, a co-worker, a friend, an acquaintance, not knowing how to say no to another volunteer project, or even a family member, if something is causing a considerable amount of stress, figure out a way to reduce it. If that means changing jobs, changing where we live, or severely limiting the time we spend with a stressful person, we must do whatever it takes to reduce the amount of stress in our lives. We can't avoid all stress and we just can't run from the many challenges we all face. But there are times when we allow unnecessary or excessive stress to further bombard our brain and our body. This leads to the release of harmful hormones and the suppression of beneficial biological processes in our bodies that will in turn lead to higher levels of inflammation.

4. SUPPLEMENTATION--The fourth weapon in my arsenal is like a bow with many different types of arrows. They all work together to help weaken the FIRE BREATHING DRAGON inside of me diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. That bow is proper knowledge of supplementation. Armed with that, I continually launch various arrows at the INFLAMMATORY DRAGON on a daily basis, knowing full well that I can never kill it-I can only weaken it until it breathes fire no more.

The following is a list of supplements of which I have found enough supporting research to show that they are beneficial, and have found them especially beneficial for me personally. They all have one thing in common-the ability to reduce inflammation. Many of them contain powerful antioxidant properties to reduce free radical damage at the cellular level.

1. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS-- Omega-3 fatty acids either from fish oil, flaxseed, algae or krill. There are other sources as well. Just make sure you get the highest amount of DHA and EPA you can for the money, from a quality manufacturer that provides filtered oil, free from contaminants like mercury. Omega-3 fatty acids should be taken daily. They have so many proven health benefits in the human body, especially for your brain, heart and the reducing of inflammation, that they should be regarded as a must in your supplementation program. I prefer to get mine from a quality multi supplement that I have taken for years saving me a considerable amount of money.

2. GLUCOSAMINE-- Numerous studies have proven Glucosamine works better in the long-term treatment of arthritis than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen) and without the bad side effects. It has also been shown to work better when combined with Chondroitin, which is why I prefer to take it in a good joint formula that also includes two other substances shown to improve joint health: Hyaluronic Acid and MSM. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a powerful antioxidant/anti-inflammatory that is helpful in maintaining proper liver function. Hyaluronic Acid is especially important for maintaining joint health and is what doctors will inject into your knees to provide relief from osteoarthritis. I prefer to take mine together daily, in a joint formula which you can find on Best Supplement Guide titled Best Joint Formula.

3. TRITERPENES-- Triterpenes work to inhibit part of the inflammatory process as it starts. There are various natural substances that contain triterpenes. One of the highest concentrations is found in the Shea nut. Its extracted oil can be found in various products, but the one I prefer is called FlexNow. FlexNow has been proven to reduce inflammation in clinical trials in humans and the manufacturer is so confident in the product they will give you your money back if you are not satisfied.

4. TURMERIC-- Turmeric's active ingredient curcumin is a natural inhibitor of the COX-2 enzyme that triggers inflammation. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years an anti-inflammatory, and has numerous other health related benefits.

5. MILK THISTLE EXTRACT-- Milk thistle extract, with its active ingredients silibin and silymarin, is one of the earliest supplements I started taking on a daily basis. I consider it a high priority for helping to protect the liver and maintain proper liver function. There are numerous studies showing milk thistle's ability to protect the liver and even return diseased liver function back to normal. I prefer to get mine in the form of a good quality multi-formula that I have taken for years in order to save money.

Remember, if your liver fails to function normally, not only will the Fire Breathing Dragon within you go on a rampage, but also the rest of your body will be faced with an immune system that has run amok.

5. GRAPE SKIN AND GRAPE SEED EXTRACT-- Both of these contain polyphenols, which are powerful, free radical neutralizers with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to protect the DNA within our cells. Both are well researched and have led to further research supporting the benefits of the extract known as Resveratrol, which is now being studied as an anti-aging formula. If purchased separately the price can vary greatly and be quite expensive, which is why I prefer to get it in the multi formula I take.

The word "arthritis" basically means "inflammation of the joint". Inflammation is the body's natural reaction to injury or disease. With inflammation, the area involved develops stiffness, pain, and swelling and it can last for a long time or recur, leading to tissue damage.

A joint is where two bones join together. The knee is the largest joint of the body. The bones of a joint are covered with a spongy material called cartilage to allow a cushion for the bones so the joint can move without pain. With arthritis, the area in and around the joint becomes inflamed and the cartilage cushion may be damaged, making mobility difficult.

Is There More than One Type of Arthritis?

There are more than one-hundred types of arthritis but the most common type is osteoarthritis. Two other common types include rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the bone ends gradually wears away, thus earning it the name "wear-and-tear arthritis." When the cartilage is damaged, the bones begin to rub against each other leading to swelling and pain. Osteoarthritis can occur in any of the joints in the body, but it affects the knee most commonly.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Also called RA, Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-lasting disease that leads to deformities and destruction of the joints. It most commonly involves the knees, wrists, and hands. With rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks itself causing the joint lining to swell and ache. The inflammation associated with RA spreads to the surrounding tissues and will eventually damage bone and cartilage. This leads to an unstable joint, pain with movement, and profound stiffness.

Gouty Arthritis: Gout is a painful condition of the joints where the body cannot eliminate uric acid or produces too much uric acid. This natural substance builds up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint leading to severe pain and swelling. Gouty arthritis most often affects the big toe, but can involve other joints including the knee and the wrist joints.

What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis?

The various kinds of arthritis produce different symptoms and it really depends on the severity from person-to-person. The most common symptoms are swelling, pain, stiffness, tenderness, warmth of the joint, and redness.

How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?

Most forms of arthritis are diagnosed with a complete medical history and various imaging techniques. Your orthopedic specialist will take X-rays or MRIs to evaluate the condition of your joints. Sometimes it is necessary for your doctor to do tests on your blood, urine, and joint fluid to determine the type of arthritis you have.

How is Knee Arthritis Treated?

Your orthopedic specialist cares about your health so the goal of treatment is to provide pain relief for you and to increase your mobility and strength in the knee joint. Treatment options include exercises, medications, heat compresses, cold therapy, or knee surgery.

What is Involved in Surgical Treatment?

If your arthritis does not respond to the nonsurgical therapies your orthopedic specialist tries, you may benefit from surgery. There are many surgical options available. The first is knee arthroscopy where the orthopedic surgeon uses fiber optic technology to view inside the joint, repair what is damaged, and perform necessary surgical techniques.

Another procedure is an osteotomy that cuts the shinbone or the thighbone to improve the alignment of the joint. Sometimes it is necessary for the doctor to do a total or partial knee arthroplasty to replace the severely damaged knee joint cartilage with plastic and metal prostheses. Finally, there is cartilage grafting that is done when the knee has limited cartilage or loss of cartilage.